Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1991 Honda Prelude
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
950.0%
2 crashes, 0 fires · median 193,000 mi
Engine & Cooling
738.9%
0 crashes, 4 fires · median 98,500 mi
Equipment & Accessories
15.6%
Median failure at 68,000 miles
Doors, Latches & Locks
15.6%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
250.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
125.0%
150,000+ miles
125.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1995peak 2Dec 2006
Recalls on the 1991 Honda Prelude
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1995086423,467 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the platic front seatbelt release buttons may break allowing plastic pieces to fall into the buckle assembly. If this should happen, a no latch, false latch or failure to unlatch condition could occur creating the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Correction: Front seatbelt buckles will be repaired or replaced as necessary.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES...EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A PRELUDE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint #730912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES...EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A PRELUDE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint #730912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE WAS NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.... IT THREW A ROD.
NHTSA complaint #721558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE WAS NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.... IT THREW A ROD.
NHTSA complaint #721558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fresno, CACrash3 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THIS HEAD-ON COLLISION WAS INVESTIGATED BY THE CHP. CENTRAL DIVISION CHP M.A.I.T. WAS REQUESTED TO EXAMINE THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT. UPON EXAMINATION SGT. ESMAY DETERMINED THAT THE RESTRAINT WAS BEING WORN DUE TO THE SIGNS OF LOADING ON THE WEBBING AND LOOP GUIDE. THE WEBBING OF THE BELT SEPARATED NEAR THE LOOP GUIDE. THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, DOUGLAS GUY VETCH, DOB 10/06/68, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE FATAL VICTIM WAS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SPEED QUOTED(50MPH)IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE BASED ON THE OBSERVED DAMAGE AND APPARENT COLLISION DYNAMICS. THIS COLLISION IS BEING REPORTED PER CHP POLICY. IT IS BEING REPORTED BY SGT. ESMAY AND NOT THE OWNER. REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. SGT. ESMAY
NHTSA complaint #700165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willow Brook, 00Crash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE INVOLVED IMPACT 1:00 POSITION SPEED 5 MPH LAP/SHOULDER FAILED TO RETRACT. TT
NHTSA complaint #966601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 129,000 milesDale City, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10175919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesCalabasas, CA
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM FAILURE: EIGHT (8) DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIRS; FOUR (4) NEW COMPRESSORS AND COMPLETE SYSTEMS INSTALLED; THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT (APPROX. $6,000.00); AND A/C REMAINS DEAD.*AK VEHICLE IS 1991 HONDA PRELUDE SI, VIN [XXX], PURCHASED NEW 7/22/91 FROM WOODLAND HILLS HONDA, 6111 TOPANGA CANYON BOULEVARD, WOODLAND HILLS, CA., 91365. A/C PROBLEM BEGAN MAY, 1996 AT 68,000 MILES, AND LAST ATTEMPTED REPAIR ENDED OCTOBER, 2001 AT 142,000 MILES. WE HAVE FOUR (4) HONDA ACCORDS (1991 AND 93 MODELS), ALL OVER 160,000 MILES, WITH NO A/C PROBLEMS. THE BAD A/C SEEMS LIMITED TO PRELUDE ONLY. IT IS VERY HOT IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FOR 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. ON OCTOBER 10, 2001, WOODLAND HILLS HONDA RECOMMENDED ANOTHER COMPLETE A/C COMPRESSOR AND SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE, [XXX] (NOW GONE), STATED THERE WAS A " COMPLETE SYSTEM PROBLEM" AND ASKED HONDA REGIONAL HQ FOR HONDA AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM WITHOUT CHARGE, OR TO SHARE THE COSTS. ASSISTANCE DENIED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCT-LIABILITY MANUFACTURING FAILURE SPECIFIC TO THE PRELUDE A/C SYSTEM AND THE COMPRESSOR IN PARTICULAR. WE SEE MANY PRELUDE DRIVERS WITH WINDOWS OPEN. WE DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE FOR WHAT WE THINK HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX. DOES HONDA KNOW IT HAS BAD A/C COMPRESSORS IN PRELUDES AND IS IGNORING OR EVADING THE PROBLEM? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10037160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesCalabasas, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM FAILURE: EIGHT (8) DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIRS; FOUR (4) NEW COMPRESSORS AND COMPLETE SYSTEMS INSTALLED; THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT (APPROX. $6,000.00); AND A/C REMAINS DEAD.*AK VEHICLE IS 1991 HONDA PRELUDE SI, VIN [XXX], PURCHASED NEW 7/22/91 FROM WOODLAND HILLS HONDA, 6111 TOPANGA CANYON BOULEVARD, WOODLAND HILLS, CA., 91365. A/C PROBLEM BEGAN MAY, 1996 AT 68,000 MILES, AND LAST ATTEMPTED REPAIR ENDED OCTOBER, 2001 AT 142,000 MILES. WE HAVE FOUR (4) HONDA ACCORDS (1991 AND 93 MODELS), ALL OVER 160,000 MILES, WITH NO A/C PROBLEMS. THE BAD A/C SEEMS LIMITED TO PRELUDE ONLY. IT IS VERY HOT IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FOR 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. ON OCTOBER 10, 2001, WOODLAND HILLS HONDA RECOMMENDED ANOTHER COMPLETE A/C COMPRESSOR AND SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE, [XXX] (NOW GONE), STATED THERE WAS A " COMPLETE SYSTEM PROBLEM" AND ASKED HONDA REGIONAL HQ FOR HONDA AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM WITHOUT CHARGE, OR TO SHARE THE COSTS. ASSISTANCE DENIED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCT-LIABILITY MANUFACTURING FAILURE SPECIFIC TO THE PRELUDE A/C SYSTEM AND THE COMPRESSOR IN PARTICULAR. WE SEE MANY PRELUDE DRIVERS WITH WINDOWS OPEN. WE DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE FOR WHAT WE THINK HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX. DOES HONDA KNOW IT HAS BAD A/C COMPRESSORS IN PRELUDES AND IS IGNORING OR EVADING THE PROBLEM? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10037160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 193,000 milesMarquette, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RELEASES ON ITS OWN AT ANY TIME. DEALER STATES THAT COIL CONNECTOR TERMINATOR NEEDS REPLACING.
NHTSA complaint #10031901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Florham Park, NJ
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
THE HOOD HAD OPENED UP WHILE MY SON WAS USING THE CAR. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FRON GLASS, ROOF, LEFT SIDE MIRROR, LEFT SIDE DOOR AND LEFT SIDE FRONT FENDER, AND HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #761825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Battle CRE, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE WHICH WAS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE, AFTER SOME TIME THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HAVE A USED ENGINE INSTALLED AFTER INSTALLATION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BAD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT RUN (HEAD GASKET, SHORT BLOCK, HEAD ASSEMBLY, TIMING BELT AND OIL PAN). NLM
NHTSA complaint #557457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES...EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A PRELUDE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint #730912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PRELUDES...EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A PRELUDE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint #730912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE WAS NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.... IT THREW A ROD.
NHTSA complaint #721558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE THE WAS NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.... IT THREW A ROD.
NHTSA complaint #721558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fresno, CACrash3 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THIS HEAD-ON COLLISION WAS INVESTIGATED BY THE CHP. CENTRAL DIVISION CHP M.A.I.T. WAS REQUESTED TO EXAMINE THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT. UPON EXAMINATION SGT. ESMAY DETERMINED THAT THE RESTRAINT WAS BEING WORN DUE TO THE SIGNS OF LOADING ON THE WEBBING AND LOOP GUIDE. THE WEBBING OF THE BELT SEPARATED NEAR THE LOOP GUIDE. THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, DOUGLAS GUY VETCH, DOB 10/06/68, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE FATAL VICTIM WAS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SPEED QUOTED(50MPH)IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE BASED ON THE OBSERVED DAMAGE AND APPARENT COLLISION DYNAMICS. THIS COLLISION IS BEING REPORTED PER CHP POLICY. IT IS BEING REPORTED BY SGT. ESMAY AND NOT THE OWNER. REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. SGT. ESMAY
NHTSA complaint #700165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Northport, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WON'T LOCK AND WILL COME APART WHENEVER THE CONSUMER MOVES WHICH MAK'S THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #833333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ogden, UT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND BUZZER NEVER STOPS, EVEN IF VEHICLE IS OFF.
NHTSA complaint #781763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodside, NY
SEAT BELTS
POWER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT.
NHTSA complaint #604760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mays Landi, NJ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVERS SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #500972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamburg, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT APPEARS TO CLASP WHEN ENGAGED, HOWEVER SAFETY LIGHT GOES ON, NECESSITATING REENGAGEMENT UNTIL LIGHT GOES OUT.
NHTSA complaint #488840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willow Brook, 00Crash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE INVOLVED IMPACT 1:00 POSITION SPEED 5 MPH LAP/SHOULDER FAILED TO RETRACT. TT
NHTSA complaint #966601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denton, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
NEITHER FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL LATCH. TT
NHTSA complaint #964911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.